athanasius the great
TRANSCRIPT
Athanasius the GreatArianism, The Creed, and the Council
Module 3ASt. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
Adult Education Series
Rev. Deacon Mark Koscinski CPA D.Litt.
Prologue
In Prison together:
Arius
Meletius
Eusebius Pamphilius
Later known as Eusebius of Caesarea
Advisor to Constantine
Author of the Ecclesiastical History
Peter of Alexandria
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Meletius of Lycopolis
Bishop of Lycoplis
Rigorist was would not compromise on issues
Incarcerated with Peter of Alexandria, the Archbishop
Relations soon turned very sour.
Peter of Alexandria
Elected Archbishop of Alexandria in 300.
Jailed during the persecution of Diocletian
A generous man who did not condone apostasy, but did advocate forgiveness
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Peter and Meletius
Meletius believed there should be no clemency for those who apostate.
Peter had a blanket put down the middle of their cell, so they did not have to look at each other
Refused to use the same jail yard.
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The Egyptian Synod
A synod was held to determine a common Egyptian policy towards the lapsed.
Severe penance was prescribed, but it was possible to obtain forgiveness
The Meletian group was disgusted.
Meletius began to act as archbishop ordaining priests to work throughout the diocese of Egypt.
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Sent to the Mines
Meletius was arrested and sent to the slave mines of Palestine
He continued to consecrate priests and bishops
Created the Church of the Martyrs.
His cause suffered a temporary setback when Peter was captured and beheaded in 311
The Church of the Martyrs became a serious alternative to the Catholic Church
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The First Council and Meletius
There was a lot of sympathy for Meletius at the first Council
He nor his priests were deposed
Meletius was ordered to cease consecrating a competitive hierarchy.
Meletian bishops could succeed to their dioceses upon the death of the catholic bishop if they submitted.
Meletian heresy had fifty years left in it.
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Arius
Was a magnetic personality, and very energetic
Given a parish in the suburbs of Alexandria, his preaching skills brought him many disciples among the clergy, and scandalously, the women.
Arius was tall, and extremely thin.
He dressed very simply and was ascetic.
Studied under Lucian of Antioch
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Arius
An initial supporter of Meletius, who repented.
When Meletius was excommunicated by Peter, Arius objected so violently that Peter was compelled to excommunicate him as well.
Later reconciled again.
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Lucian of Antioch
Lucian taught an entire generation about his own views of Christianity
His followers were intensely loyal to him and to each other.
This group was called the Collucianists, or those with Lucian.
Lucian was from the Antiochian school that emphasized God the Father
Antiochian teaching stressed the difference between the Father and the Son, giving the Father precedence
Arius learned a particular way of looking at God
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Arianism at its Root
The Senior Partner in the Godhead was the Father
The Son was eternally subordinate to the Father
“There was a time when he was not”
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Alexandrian Reaction
This was completely shocking!
God was unchanging
If Christ was ever the Son of God, He had to be so from all eternity.
You just cant have God dividing himself at some point in time.
He wouldn’t be perfect then.
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Progression of Ariansim
By 320, Arius had one bishop, seven priests, twelve deacons and 700 consecrated virgins as followers. Arianism was spreading rapidly.
By this time Arius had become the second ranking priest in the Archdiocese, and Alexander the Bishop began to take notice.
Alexander called for a debate.
This was followed by another.
Arius eloquently defended himself so Alexander did not suspend him
Alexander forbade him to teach until a council of bishops could settle the issue.
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Colluthus
The senior priest in the archdiocese was named Colluthus.
Colluthus was sickened by Alexander’s deliberate approach
He concluded the Church in Alexandria was dead
Colluthus declared himself a bishop and began ordaining priests
It looked like the Church in Antioch was disintegrating:
Meletians
Arians
Colluthusians
The pagans took heart from the chaos.
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The Local Councils
Alexander’s Council of 100 bishops condemned Arius.
A second council at Mareotis condemned Arianism again.
Arius did not take things laying down Wrote to Eusebius of Nicomedia and
Eusebius of Caesarea
They both had Arian leaning and encouraged Arius to continue
Eusebius of Nicomedia called a synod to evaluate Alexander of Alexandria—clearly interfering in another bishop’s diocese
The Nicomedian Synod encouraged Alexander to reinstate Arius.
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Meanwhile, Arius is…
Generating propaganda at a phenomenal rate.
He made up slogans chanted in the streets and the hippodrome
Arius wrote a book called “Happy Thoughts” to explain his theology
Arianism is becoming a mass movement, becoming a real threat to the peace Constantine prizes
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And Back at the Chancery Offices….
Eusebius of Caesarea calls a synod in Syria that affirms the correctness of Arius.
Total chaos is now sweeping the Eastern Church
Constantine sends Ossius of Cordova to mediate the situation. Constantine doesn’t really care what
the conclusion it.
He simply wants a conclusion.
Everyone ends up at the Capital: Arius, Eusebius of Caesarea (himself recently excommunicated), Eusebius of Nicomedia, Alexander, Ossius, Helena ( a fan of Lucian of Antioch)
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And the Result Was….
The Council of Nicaea in 325.
Athanasius counts 300 bishops. Then number is “increased to 318” because of the biblical significance of the number.
The Council settles on the “homoousious” definition of consubstantiality.
Constantine hears it is okay in the West, Athanasius is okay with it, and the majority of the Council will accept
He gets behind this definition
In the end, Arius is condemned.
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So What Happens?
Arius and a handful of those who voted with him are sent into exile in Illyricum.
This did not end Arianism though.
Arius redrafts a Creed that could be interpreted as Orthodox and makes another run at Constantine.
Constantine appears to have thought about reopening the Council again in order to have Arius reinstated for the sake of peace
Alexander keeps stalling until he dies.
It is now the problem of Athanasius.
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Athanasius’ Years of Trouble
Constantine begins to waffle when Ossius leaves for Spain as both Eusebius’ gain increased influence.
He wishes Arius to be reinstated.
Arius attempts to return to his parish, but rioting happens in the streets
Antony comes to support Athanasius.
The monks support Athanasius
All of this ends when Arius dies in the bathroom
Apologists make a lot of hay out of this death.
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